Personal Safety Committee
Contact Information
Please call 645-2228 for further information about the Personal Safety Committee or to bring issues to its attention.
History and Purpose
In April 1984, Chancellor Cliffton Wharton, responding to expressed concerns about personal safety on SUNY campuses, called for each state-operated campus in the SUNY system to form a broad-based and continuing advisory group to review issues of personal safety. In June of 1984, the SUNY Board of Trustees adopted a resolution supporting the Chancellor's request. The University at Buffalo already had in place the "President's Task Force on Women's Safety" which then President, Steven B. Sample, designated as UB's official "Personal Safety Committee".
In 1990, the requirements for the composition of the Committee were formalized with regard to the number of representatives (at least 12), their gender (evenly divided between men and women), and their university affiliation (equal numbers of faculty, students, and staff).
The purpose of the Personal Safety Committee, as stipulated by the 1991 mandate from the Vice President for Student Affairs, is "to advise the Vice President for Student Affairs on issues related to the personal safety and security of all members of the University community and visitors to our campus." Formerly, the Committee's main concern was women's safety, which continues to be reflected in its second major task: to provide the Vice President for Student Affairs with reports, suggestions, and recommendations for the "improvement of personal security conditions in all areas of campus response protocols for sexual assault situations."
Responsibilities of the Committee
- Recommend further actions and programs that will raise the level of safety awareness among all members of the University community.
- Identify ways to utilize academic programs for the enhancement of personal safety.
- Review existing programs and suggest improvements in safety education, particularly for students taking evening courses, using campus services such as libraries and computing sites during off hours, and living in residence halls.
- Review and identify potential sources of funding for future and current programs related to personal safety on campus.
- Review and suggest improvements to campus preventative and judicial policies on sexual assault.
- Conduct regular lighting tours of both campuses to maintain a safe environment for those on campus during evening hours.
- Conduct regular meetings regarding the status of blue light phones on campus.
- Monitor availability of counseling services for victims.
- Continue on-going assessment of the quality of personal safety policies, practices, procedures, and programs by reviewing critical incidents.
- Periodically conduct formal and informal survey of student and staff opinion.
- Analyze crime statistics reported by University Police.
Personal Safety Reminder
- Leave lights on in entry ways when you go out.
- Walk or run with a friend. Be alert to your surroundings and the people near you.
- Avoid walking alone at night. Call SBI Safety Services at 829-2584 for more information on their escort and van service.
- Walk assertively with confidence. An attacker looks for someone who appears vulnerable.
- At night, walk close to the curb. Avoid bushes and doorways where an attacker can hide. Travel on well-lit streets.
- Do not use earphones while walking, driving, or bicycling.
- If followed, walk quickly to well-lit, populated areas. If followed by a car, turn and walk in the opposite direction.
- Personal alarms may help deter an attempted assault.
- In the residence halls, avoid being in the laundry rooms alone at night. If strangers telephone or come to your door, do not admit that you are alone.
- For all emergencies on campus call 645-2222.
